Richard ‘Dick’ Ferraro, 91
Richard “Dick” Ferraro, a retired American Airlines captain, departed for his last flight on January 5, 2026, at age 91. At the gate, he leaves behind many people who were touched by his kindness, courage, and intellect.
Dick was born to Dr. Louis R. and Maryanna Ferraro in New York City in 1934. He attended P.S. 189 in Manhattan and the New York Military Academy in Cornwall, New York. He went on to earn a bachelor’s from Trinity College and was an ROTC graduate.
Subsequently, he served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1960, achieving the rank of first lieutenant. After completing flight training, he received his USAF Master Instructor Certificate in 1959 and was stationed at Moody Air Force base in Valdosta, Georgia. Later, as a member of the Air Force Reserve, he flew C-119 cargo planes out of Hanscom Air Force base in Bedford.
Dick began a distinguished 29-year career with American Airlines in 1964. In 1988, he was among the first of the airline’s pilots to travel to Toulouse, France, to learn to fly the revolutionary Airbus A300.
Despite spending a great deal of time in the cockpit, he cultivated endless hobbies such as birdwatching, traveling the world, studying Civil War history, and singing barbershop. In addition, he was a hospice volunteer and Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse docent, and helped restore oyster reefs through the Nature Conservancy/University of New Hampshire.
Dick moved with his young family to Acton in 1968, eventually retiring to Dover, New Hampshire. He lost his first wife of 40 years, Ann, all too soon, but found the second love of his life in Barbara Winter, who survives him after 24 years of marriage. He is also survived by his sisters Ellen Thompson of Richmond, Virginia, and Beatrice Miller of Englewood, Florida. He leaves behind his son Peter Ferraro and his wife Dawn Boyer of Dover, New Hampshire; daughter Laura Close and her husband Steve of Acton; and stepdaughters Lisa and Carolyn Winter and their husbands Alex Geidt and Tom Ocampo, all of San Francisco. Dick will be sorely missed by his grandsons (Max, Chris, Will, and Greg); grandson-in-law (Spencer); step-grandsons (Rey and Nick); and great-grandson (Jack).
A private burial was held at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Acton. To honor Dick’s love of birds, gifts can be made in his name to the Loon Preservation Committee at loon.org.
